"So, have you seen Jimin today?" Hoseok's voice muffled in a mouthful of salad, a piece of lettuce stuck stubbornly to the corner of his lips.

Jeongguk didn't look up from his studies, a gentle breeze caressed at his fingers while he typed away on his laptop.

"No. Haven't seen him in a while. He said he's sick," he replied nonchalantly, brows slowly falling into a gentle furrow. Then after finally breaking focus, he sighed out loudly.

Hoseok continued. "He's been really distant lately, you know? And he won't tell me anything... Are you sure he's alright?"

Jeongguk gnawed at his lip.

No, he's in love with you, is what he wanted to say. But they weren't words Hoseok should be hearing from him.

"He'll be fine," is what he settled on, then proceeded to rub his temples in frustration.

Hoseok narrowed his eyes. "And... what about you, is your assignment really that annoying?"

Jeongguk leaned back with another audible sigh. "I'm not... really focused on that right now.."

"Then what are you sighing left and right about?"

The boy tapped his fingers mindlessly over the table. He knew exactly what was bothering him and why. But for some unconventional reason, he felt heavy talking about it. As though it should be something kept to himself. Ultimately, that man just had that effect on him. Yet, this was his Hoseok-hyung he was talking to. There would be no harm in ranting, surely.

"It's... It's Taehyung, I... I just—"

"—Morning, lovelies!" A voice swiftly interrupted him, brown strands of hair lifting into the air, a shine from the sun casting from her head. Jeongguk swivelled to the side to see Yerin cheerily approaching the two, only to plop herself down beside Hoseok on the outdoor bench.

"Baby, what... are you doing here?" Hoseok blinked in surprise.

"What, I can't visit my boyfie between classes?" she pouted, then laughed softly while she reached a finger to wipe the lettuce from his mouth. "You have food stuck to your face, you dumb baby." She turned to Jeongguk. "Hi Ggukie! How's my favorite little man doing?"

"Hey, noona," the boy chuckled with cute rosy cheeks. "How's the jetlag?"

"Aw, baby, not too bad. I'm settling in our new apartment really well, at the very least," Yerin grinned. "What were we talking about? Did I interrupt something?"

"Hm, nah. Jeongguk was just about to tell me about his sex life again, I think," Hoseok shrugged.

Jeongguk's face turned redder. "Hey, I wasn't—!"

"Oh! Right, right! With who? Kim Taehyung?"

The boy's eyes enlarged. "You told her?"

Hoseok opened his mouth to speak but his lady beat him to it.

"Listen, I hear things from a lot of people," Yerin laughed. "Now go on. What's up with him now?"

Jeongguk exhaled shakily, unsure why he felt that much more timid talking about the topic now that another set of ears were around to listen.

"Well, I-... I just don't really... k-know how he feels about me... you know?" he stammered out, gaze down on the table.

"Do you like him?" Hoseok piped up. Jeongguk was quick to straighten up and furiously shake his head.

"What? Of course I don't! I mean... not like that. I mean, I just got out of my relationship with Seojun, and so..."

Yerin cooed softly and leaned forward. "It's alright, Jeongguk-ah. It's normal to feel confused and all... Certainly, Taehyung is the most difficult man to understand on this damned planet. And I swear, men are already perplexing enough."

Jeongguk blinked innocently. "Wait... you know Taehyung?"

The woman giggled in amusement. "Do I know Taehyung...? Let's see, I'm pretty sure all that time I spent being the hottest girlfriend he'll ever have helped me get to know him, alright."

The boy's jaw dropped. "You used to date him?!"

Yerin blinked. "You... didn't know?"

"I don't think people casually know that shit, babe," Hoseok flared his nose. Yerin laughed loudly and reached to peck his cheek.

"I told you, baby. That was the past. A long forgotten past."

Hoseok huffed and continued to eat his salad, while Jeongguk's brain was having the most rough time of its life digesting the new information.

Taehyung and Yerin... used to be boyfriend and girlfriend. Taehyung and Yerin... in a relationship.

He just couldn't imagine it. He didn't think Taehyung was a relationship kind of person in the first place. So a girl like Yerin was his type, huh...?

Jeongguk couldn't take it all in.

"That's... Well, that's pretty crazy.." he forced out a chuckle, palms dropping limp against his laptop. He rubbed his nail over the table and opened his mouth to speak again, but Yerin stood abruptly.

"Well what's with the sudden silence, you two? You're both no fun.." she gave a dramatic groan, fists clinging to her hips. "I say we go do something for old time's sake, no? We're missing Jiminie, but I'm sure he's busy somewhere."

Jeongguk smiled weakly. "Go... do something? I don't know. I have some work to finish and—"

"Like what?" Yerin cut in. "You're actually gonna do school work when the semester just started? C'mon now, Ggukie. You gotta learn to live a little. Succumbing to society is the most boring shit there is."

Hoseok choked out a laugh. "God, you're such a bad influence."

But the girl merely cracked a smile, as though someone had just thrown her the biggest compliment there ever was.

"Aw, baby... I know."

※ ※

"A shot of whiskey, please," Taehyung's ragged voice pushed through the air in a deep vibration, his body moving to sit at the high stool in front of him while he rested his arms over the bar counter.

Seokjin emerged from behind the blue tapestry that led to the establishment's kitchen.

"Coming right u—...!"

He stopped upon realizing it was only Taehyung, eyes narrowing in a huffed expression.

"Now wait a minute... We're closed," Seokjin crossed his arms and grunted.

Taehyung shrugged innocently. "I'm not asking as a customer. I'm asking as your favorite dongsaeng."

"You're not my favorite dongsaeng."

"Yes I am."

"No you're not."

"If not me, then who?" Taehyung smirked, leaning forward to make the older boy anticipate his words. "Namjoon, perhaps?"

Seokjin's face flushed a crimson color, gaze darting towards the floor.

"F-Fine. It's you. Um, yeah... you-.. You're my favorite."

"Thought so."

Seokjin shot the male a killer look, hoping Taehyung would look past his flustered state and be intimidated by it. (He wasn't.)

"You annoying little fuck, what are you even doing here? Abyss doesn't open until like 3 hours," the older grumbled, reaching to pull a glass from the drying rack and beginning to wipe it with a small towel.

"I told you, didn't I?" Taehyung leaned on his elbow with leisure. "I want a shot of whiskey."

"You're gonna drink in broad daylight?" A scoff. "Shouldn't you be out attending your classes or some shit? Don't you wanna graduate?"

"Hyung," the younger looked up. "Please. Now."

Seokjin placed the now dry glass down and sighed softly. Now that he had calmed a bit and took a few seconds to really look at the younger, he only now took note of just how exhausted Taehyung seemed. There was a sort of somber aura about him, despite the man having pulled off meaningless banter with him just a moment ago. Even being alongside this boy for so long, he still couldn't ever tell what it was he was thinking. That forlorn expression on his face, the slight slouch over the counter, his long bangs drizzled over his eyes, casting an insoluble shadow over his face.

So many memories shared with this young man over the years. And yet, Kim Taehyung was still an enigma.

"On the rocks?" Seokjin's voice was soft, nurturing. He began to wonder when it was that speaking this way towards this boy became a habit of his. Or rather, he felt like he had to care for him.

"On the rocks," Taehyung confirmed. Even at the sound of his unusually weary voice, Seokjin smiled.

"Coming right up. Hyungie will pour you the tastiest one~"

After a bit of pacing, of Seokjin taking his time contemplating which bottle Taehyung would enjoy the most (despite the man insisting he'd take whatever), and of Seokjin picking out a nice shot glass, then pouring it gracefully; Taehyung was chugging alcohol into his system.

He slammed the small cup to the counter, gently, and hissed out with a splatter of satisfaction in his eyes.

"Hey, that's some good shit," he grinned. Seokjin only smiled back while he wiped down the countertop. And before either of them could  add anything the front door slammed open in the distance, and the sound of light bells clacking together filled the main area, indicating a customer.

But right then it wasn't a customer that had walked in, but rather—

"Min Yoongi!" Seokjin called out, planning to follow up with some snarky remark of a greeting but upon seeing his angered demeanor, he decided against it.

Yoongi stomped over towards the two, an irritated expression on his face, incoherent mumbling below his lips. He reached the bar and slammed a hand down over the countertop.

"Well, hello there hyung—"

Yoongi interrupted Taehyung, his eyes locked firmly onto Seokjin. "Which one of them is he right now?"

Taehyung's mouth slowly parted.

"Ah, well um..." Seokjin blinked at the man, taken aback by the rather unmannerly question. "He's just... Taehyung."

"Yeah, uh-huh... Just Taehyung," Yoongi mumbled, turning to look at said man.

"You... You know I can hear you, right...?" Taehyung cut in with somewhat of an eerie, satirical expression on his face.

Yoongi ignored the comment. "I need to talk to you."

"Yeah? Then talk to me. I'm right here," Taehyung turned on his seat to face the older boy, dark eyes pierced onto him, grasping his attention.

Yoongi calmly stared back, fists clenched over the table. "What the fuck are you planning, including Park Jimin in whatever little game of yours you have going on?"

Taehyung tilted his head. "Park Jimin? Your English project partner?"

"Yes, him," Yoongi growled. "After the Bangtan meeting five days ago you were sitting reeal close and offering to take him home and shit. Probably sweet talking him like you do with just about anyone for your measly entertainment. I know how you get by now and I refuse to let you do your bullshit with him."

"The... Bangtan meeting?" The younger blinked. "We had a meeting?"

"Was that not you there?"

Taehyung slowly shook his head, which only caused Yoongi to groan loudly.

"See, this is why, Taehyung. This is why I told you not to involve yourself with those second years. Please, for fuck's sake. They're practically babies to our world and you're out here dragging them into dangerous territory!"

"Yoongi, holy shit, calm down," Taehyung grunted. "Is this about Jeon Jeongguk and his friend? What did I do?"

"I'm not entirely sure, but your little asshole personality's toying with them. Jimin told me you made some moves on him that made him uncomfortable, and that you told Jeongguk he was the one who initiated everything. Those guys are supposed to be best friends and Jimin was just crying to me earlier over how he can't take him and Jeongguk fighting anymore. Apparently they had some big argument over you and haven't even talked to each other in days. You're ruining their precious friendship, you jerk."

Taehyung bit his lip, taking a brief moment to process what he was hearing. After a quiet few seconds he spoke up. "Shit... I don't know what to tell you. I only just got back this morning. Whatever my alter did, I... really have no idea, hyung. I'm sorry."

Seokjin leaned forward, hoping to break a bit of the tension Yoongi had brought in with him. "Yoongi, relax. It's not Taehyung's fault. I know you're concerned for that boy at your school, but taking it out on Taehyung like this isn't fair. He can't control it." He made sure he kept his voice gentle, hoping it would stabilize the two agitated men. Then he turned to look at the younger. "Tae, what's the most recent thing you remember before this morning?"

Taehyung fumbled with his fingers, eyes narrowing as he met the oldest's gaze. "Fuck, well..." He paused, scratching at his nape. "I was... in my apartment with Jeongguk. We were fucking until late night and then, he fell asleep and I got a text message from you guys telling me to come here, to Abyss."

The older two fell silent. Yoongi's mouth slowly dropped. He dug his hands inside his pockets and moved to sit on the stool in front of him, two away from where Taehyung sat.

"Fuck..." he whispered, exchanging knowing looks with Seokjin before staring towards Taehyung again. "That was the day we had the Bangtan meeting. It makes sense now."

"Shit.." Seokjin added. "You were gone a while, huh?"

"Yeah. I was." Taehyung slid the empty shot glass towards Seokjin. "Fuckin' pour me some more of that shit now, will ya?"

The older male exhaled quietly, reached to grab the bottle of liquor beside him and refilled Taehyung's glass. The three men were quiet again for a long moment, a wave of uncertainty washing over them.

"Those boys..." Yoongi spoke, nails tapping over the counter. "They're better off living normal lives. I still think that, you know."

Taehyung chugged the potent drink, a hissing short cough rutting out from his throat.

Yoongi continued, "Not sure how we'll do it, but we need to distance ourselves from them. Making them hate us is probably the easiest way to do that. If they don't seek us out, they won't involve themselves with us. I know we have them as project partners, but after that... We need to let them go."

Taehyung's grip on the glass tightened, a lull in his eyes. He knew the man was right. He, of course, felt it too. The hesitance he'd feel around Jeongguk, as though he didn't deserve to be around him. And Jeongguk didn't deserve the pain Taehyung would inevitably bring him. He didn't want to do that to the boy. He couldn't.

Besides, making Jeongguk hate him wouldn't be too hard. Hell, he probably already despised him. All Taehyung needed to do now was seal those feelings of resentment into stone, and the boy would never want to speak to him again.

That's right.

"I know what I have to do."

✱ ✱ ✱

{ A / N }

since it probably won't be mentioned in the story itself for a while, I want to clarify, in case you all didn't catch on:

Taehyung's mental health condition is called DID, or Dissociative Identity Disorder (previously known as multiple personality disorder).

I was debating for a while on when was the right timing in the story to reveal it to the readers, but after some thinking I think my decision makes sense. I'm sure before this chapter Taehyung was quiiite the confusing character, but from now on I think the reader perspective should shift a bit, so that should be interesting 😳

what did you guys think about the reveal?

I'll talk more about DID and Taehyung in much more detail in PART 2's book notes. Look forward to it :)